The Ohio Department of Education is seeking nominations for outstanding 21st Century programs and personnel that have positively impacted students, families, schools, and/or their community. Please see announcement below for more information on the awards.

The Ohio Department of Education – Office of Improvement and Innovation, 21st Century Learning Centers is pleased to issue a Call for Presenters for our Annual Statewide Summit for Enrichment & Education, Somewhere Over the Rainbow: A Pot of Golden Opportunities for Ohio’s Students. This year’s Summit will be held at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, Ohio on September 19-20, 2017.

Call Deadline: July 7, 2017

The focus for this year’s Summit is designed to provide a forum for strengthening professional knowledge, sharing best practices, linking after school activities to school day instruction, preparing students for 21st century skills, and developing networks. The Statewide Summit for Enrichment & Education is seeking workshop proposals that correspond with the workshop tracks outlined in the Request for Proposal. All workshops will be presented on September 19-20, 2017.

The Summer Food Service Program ensures children ages 18 and under continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer break from school, when they do not have access to school breakfasts or lunches. Children with disabilities and approved individualized education programs may participate through age 21.

“The need for healthy meals doesn’t stop when school breaks for the summer, and the Summer Food Service Program helps provide children with nourishment to make sure summer can be a time for continued learning and fun,” said Paolo DeMaria, superintendent of public instruction. “Instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from, our students can enjoy activities like reading, sports, playing outdoors and the growing that happens during the summer months.”

Many Ohio parents and caregivers continue to make difficult choices every day to provide for their families. In many cases, this leaves Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens, our children and youth, struggling with hunger daily.

In 2016, more than 3.95 million meals were served to Ohio children through the Summer Food Service Program with the help of approximately 1,900 feeding sites.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Ohio Department of Education.

The 15th annual OTAGS conference will explore this question and provide after school professionals tools, tangible ideas and resources to better cultivate children’s growth. Click on the link below for additional information.